Plateholder



Dec. 9, 1952 J. BROOKS 2,620,928

PLATEHOLDER Filed Feb. 9, 195 0 2 sums-4mm 1 I I? as LIP 3' 37 Jilc/cBBao/(S I INVENTOR. 14 f r [EH 6 I BY rv a AW IeA Q J. BROOKSPLATEHOLDER Dec. 9, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1950 PatentedDec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for holding dishes and plateson a shelf or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a supporting device for aplurality of dishes and plates, which device is of novel and improvedconstruction, and is adapted for use on the shelves of cupboards,cabinets, closets, display tables and show cases, such device affordingsupport for the plates and dishes, one behind the other in spacedrelation and in display position.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and improved device of thecharacter mentioned for holding a plurality of dishes and plates, faceforward, one behind the other in tilted display position, whichmaintains them against rolling sidewise and against falling downwards orforwards.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved and noveldish and plate supporting device of the type described, which so holdssuch articles that even if by accident any of them is shifted to fallforward, they will remain held on the supporting device though tiltedupwardly forwardly and will be arrested at a position not far from thevertical plane.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and improved device of theclass set forth, which needs no nail or similar fastening means toengage it on a shelf, but will stay put against forward movement on suchshelf.

A further object of this invention is to provide a plate and dishsupporting device of the kind described, of novel and improvedconstruction, in which such articles are easily set and removed from,and which does not employ a wall of the closet to support any of thedishes or plates.

A further object hereof is to provide a plate and dish supporting deviceof the nature set forth, of novel and improved construction wherebythere is a saving in the quantity of material required for its make-up,which device may be moulded in one piece of plastic or other suitablematerial.

Still a further object is to provide a novel and improved article of thekind stated, which is economical to manufacture, easy to use andefiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosureproceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plate and dish supporting deviceembodying the teachings of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a side view thereof, showing plates supported thereon.

Fig. 5 is a section taken at lines 55 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view shown in perspective; the sectionto be deemed taken at lines 66 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment which requires lessmaterial than the one previously shown, and presents other advantageswhich will be explained.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section taken at lines 99 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a section taken at lines Ill-l0 in Fig. 'I.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view shown 'in perspective; thesection to be deemed taken at lines I l-H in Fig. 10, but illustrating aslightly modified construction.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, which is designated generally by thenumeral I5, the numerals I6, I1, I3 and I9 denote parallel upright wallsin spaced relation one behind the other; each of said walls being tallerthan the comparatively low fence elements 20 and 2|, which join thelower portions of the side edges of said Walls respectively. Each ofthese fence elements is provided with a series of notches downwardlyfrom and commencing at their respective top edges, one such notchimmediately at the rear surface of each of said walls. Two such notchesare therefore related to each wall, so in pairs such notches are denotedby the numerals 22, 23, 24 and 25. Successive walls and fence parts aresubstantially bridged by horizontally extending members 26, 27 and 28,but there are spaces 29, 30 and 3| which are openings, whereby each wallexcept the front one It, forms a sort of bench back of which the bridgemember in front of it, is the seat or shelf. The forward edges of theseshelves are denoted by the numerals 25', 21' and 28', respectively. Ifdesired, these forward edges may have a skirt as indicated at 32, 33 and34, whereupon it is the lower edges of said skirts, as at 35, whichtakes on significance to act as a stop together with the pads 35 at theupper rear surface of the wall in front, for a plate 31 which wouldotherwise fall forward, if accidentally displaced. The seat portions ofthe mentioned bench-like structures, never serving as a plate support inany manner on their upper surfaces,

may be reinforced to be sturdy by means of the ribs 38. A rear piece orbody 41, terminates at the back of the article 15, in a downwardlyextending thin tab 40, which is in aplane parallel with the walls. Thisbody piece 41 may be an inverted shell, with its bottom edges coplanarwith the bottom edges of the walls, so that article I5 may be rested ona table surface with the tab 40 aside an edge of the table, or else withtab 40 in space 4|, which is found to exist in many instances betweenthe shelf 52 and the rear wall 43 of a closet, cupboard or the like.

In use, a plate 31 is set to rest with the bottom of its rim engaged ina pair of notches as 24, with the lowest point of such rim portion incontact with the wall l8 immediately in front of such notches.Dimensions are such that the plate 3'! in the position set as aforesaid,will be tilted upwardly rearwardly, and also rest against the top edgeof wall l9 as well as against the skirt edge 28' which is really theforward edge of the shelflike member 28 if no skirt were included. Thedish so mounted, is in usual display position. Contact with edge 23, iswith but a small part of said plate.

Should the plate 3'! accidently fall forward, its rear surface at bottomrim portion will contact the bottom edge 35 of the skirt 34, and theplates front rim surface will contact the pads as 35 on wall [8,whereupon the plate will assume a slightly forwardly tilted position andfall no further.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. '7, there is a substantial savingin the amount of material in the support device Here there. are noskirts as at 35, but the seats or shelves 44 of the bench-likestructures are bowed inwardly upwardly as in Fig. 10, or bowed outwardlyupwardly as in Fig. 11, or if desired can be straight as 28 in Fig. 6;the said bowed constructions being pref erable, because in displayposition, such plate 37 is not only supported as formerly, but also willbe contacted by the whole length or nearly the whole length of theforward edge 44' of the member 44, on the rear surface of such plate.

Openings 45 and 46 may be provided in the respective embodimentsillustrated, to gain an additional plate setting. Either an additionalwall 50 may be added to aid the support of the most rearward plate, orelse the plate in such position may rest against the rear wall of thecloset. Where tab 40 is not useable, it may be omitted or broken off,and a suitable hole 48 provided in the body piece 4?, for the use of anail or the like, to secure the device on a shelf.

When the structure used is in Fig. 10, where the shelf piece is bowedcentrally upwardly, an element 5| is carried under said piece to act asa stop together with the pads 35 immediately in front, to arrest thefall of a plate.

It is evident that these supporting devices l5 and 15' may be moulded inone-piece or fabricated as a one-piece structure of plastic material orother suitable materials.

The supporting of each plate or dish being independent of the presenceof any others, dimensions are made such that when a plurality of platesand dishes fill the supporting device, such plates are out of contactwith each other, thus avoiding marring of plate decoration andaccidental chipping when initially set up.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applicationswithout departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It istherefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein bedeemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall coverall patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to thefollowing claims rather than to the specific description herein toindicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a device for supporting a plurality of dishes and plates, astructure including a plurality of upright walls in spaced relation onebehind the other, side members across the side edges of said walls; eachside member having notches downwardly from their top edges, one notchimmediately behind a wall where a plate is to be supported; said notchesbeing for receiving the rim of a substantially uprightly positioneddish, members extending forwardly in shelf-like manner, one from thefront surface of each wall behind the front wall and substantiallybridging the side members; the forward edge of each shelflike memberbeing spaced from the wall immediately in front; the major portion ofsaid forward edges being above the bottom edges of the walls whereby anopening is formed at the rear of each wall to receive the bottom portionof the rim of the dish; the top edges of the walls being substantiallyabove the top surfaces of the shelflike members and also of the topedges of the side members; all said components being so dimensioned thatwhen a dish is set with its rim resting in a pair of notches immediatelybehind one wall and in the opening afforded immediately behind suchwall, the plate will rest against the bottom portion of the rear surfaceof such wall and against the forward edge of the shelf-like memberimmediately behind such wall and elements extending rearwardly from thetop region of the walls respectively, for intercepting a plate fallingfrom normal display position onto such elements respectively.

2. In a device for supporting a plurality of dishes and plates, astructure including a plurality of upright walls in spaced relation onebehind the other, side members across the side edges of said walls; eachside member having notches downwardly from their top edges, one notchimmediately behind a wall where a plate is to be supported; said notchesbeing for receiving the rim of a substantially uprightly positioneddish, members extending forwardly in shelf-like manner, one from thefront surface of each wall behind the front wall and substantiallybridging the side members; the forward edge of each shelf-like memberbeing spaced from the wall immediately in front; the major portion, ofsaid forward edges being above the bottom edges of the walls whereby anopening is formed at the rear of each wall to receive the bottom portionof the rim of the dish; the top edges of the walls being substantiallyabove the top surfaces of the shelf-like members and also of the topedges of the side members; the respective forward edges of theshelf-like members being straight and substantially horizontal; all saidcomponents being so dimensioned that when a dish is set with its rimresting in a pair of notches immediately behind one wall and in theopening afforded immediately behind such wall, the plate will restagainst the bottom portion of the rear surface of such wall and againstthe forward edge of the shelf-like member immediately behind such wall.

3. A supporting device as defined in claim 2, including an elementdownwardly from said edge to act as a stop for a plate falling forwardlyof Number said edge. 1,558,977 JACK BROOKS. 1,810,199 2,281,192REFERENCES CITED 5 2,430,166

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 379,520 Number Name Date 10 498,137 D.115,728 Bardaville July 18, 1939 591,552

Name Date Gray Oct. 27, 1925 Blakeslee et a1 June 16, 1931 Erickson Apr.28, 1942 Fish et a1 Nov. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GreatBritain Sept. 1, 1932 Great Britain Jan. 2, 1939 Great Britain Aug. 21,1947

